A group of Filipino migrants in Nagoya, Japan condemned the dismissal of the rape charges against an American soldier who allegedly raped a Filipina.
BY BULATLAT
MIGRANT WATCH
A group of Filipino migrants in Nagoya, Japan condemned the dismissal of the rape charges against an American soldier who allegedly raped a Filipina.
On Feb. 24, Army Judge Col. Donna Wright of the US court martial dismissed the charge against Army Spec. Ronald Hopstock for the rape of “Hazel” for “lack of sufficient evidence.”
In a statement, Migrante-Nagoya said, “We ask Judge Wright: How much evidence do you need? And how many women-victims do you want to come forward to prove Hopstock’s guilt?”
The group said “Hazel”, not her real name, was only 21 years old when the rape happened on February 18, 2008. “She came to Okinawa to work as an entertainer because she needed to save money to support a sister who then needed medical attention caused by a prior accident. Hazel is not a prostitute, she is not a bad woman as what the accused and his likes have portrayed her in media.”
Migrante-Nagoya noted that Hopstock is a self-confessed “sex maniac.” In the course of the trial, Stars and Stripes reported that Hopstock admitted paying a prostitute for sex on 20 different occasions between April 2007 and Jan. 1, 2008.
“This is not the way justice should be served. However, what can Hazel and the rest of her supporters in Okinawa and elsewhere expect from a military court whose players all carry the same badge?” said the group.
“Migrante-Nagoya bleeds for Hazel and the other victims of rape and abuse by US military soldiers in Okinawa who were all denied justice today. This sad event only reinforces our distrust of the US military court whose track record of prosecuting its own men has been far worse than dismal,” it further said.
The group also slammed the Arroyo government. “We also deplore the criminal neglect of the Arroyo government for turning its back on Hazel and for not lifting its finger to ensure that justice is served to the victim.” (Bulatlat.com)
